Chelsea hand blow to European giant as they eye big double deal for Liam Rosenior

Chelsea have delivered a firm hands-off message to Real Madrid, informing the Spanish giants that neither Enzo Fernandez nor Moises Caicedo will be made available for transfer, TEAMtalk understands. The stance deals a significant setback to Madrid’s long-standing interest in the Premier League’s most expensive midfield pairing.

Fernandez, signed from Benfica for a British-record fee in January 2023, tops all league midfielders this season with eight goals and has attracted admiring glances from Paris Saint-Germain as well as the Bernabéu hierarchy. Caicedo, recruited from Brighton the following summer, has been hailed by talent-spotters as arguably the division’s outstanding central midfielder over the past 18 months. Together they formed the engine room of the Chelsea side that lifted both the Club World Cup and the inaugural Conference League last term.

Sources close to negotiations say the Ecuadorian and Argentine internationals are settled in London and have not agitated for exits. Chelsea, for their part, have instructed intermediaries that the players are integral to the club’s long-term project and will not enter into talks.

With Fernandez and Caicedo now expected to stay, sporting chiefs have turned their attention to reinforcing depth in the middle of the park. Adam Wharton of Blackburn and Newcastle’s Elliot Anderson have been scouted extensively, though competition is expected to be fierce for both young English talents. The return to fitness of Romeo Lavia adds another layer to recruitment calculations; staff are still debating whether to pursue a starter-level signing or a developmental squad option.

While the Blues continue to monitor emerging targets, the priority remains tying their current stars to fresh terms. Discussions over new contracts for Fernandez and Caicedo are ongoing, and a successful resolution would remove any lingering doubt over their futures before the summer window opens.